ACEM Research Requirement—Is It Worth the Effort or the Money?

Abstract

To sit for the Fellowship Clinical Examination, ACEM trainees must complete a research requirement (RR). The RR can be met through coursework modules, original research, or a thesis, though in practice, the coursework pathway dominates. Intended to embed habits of inquiry and critical appraisal, the RR is often experienced as a bureaucratic task, with limited evidence that current approaches translate into lasting changes in clinical behaviour. Structural barriers make original research largely inaccessible, while coursework offers modest impact at significant cost. With AI reshaping both research processes and learning, the College faces important choices: refine or relax authorship rules, develop optional critical appraisal modules, or embed evidence-based medicine skills more directly into workplace practice. Ultimately, the RR must evolve to ensure that trainees not only meet curriculum requirements but also develop the curiosity and capability to apply evidence meaningfully in clinical care.